Thoughts on the Broncos’ secondary

Doc BearAug 13, 2011 1:00 PM

The defensive backfield has some interesting plot twists coming into view this week. Second-year player and former UDFA out of Mississippi, Cassius Vaughn (4 tackles, 1 assist) had a young players’ game - he made some mistakes and made some great plays. His mistakes tended to be from trying to do too much, but he played very well overall. Perrish Cox (no tackles) had some good plays and an excellent INT; he’s struggled in his attempt to change to nickelback, which is a new position for him. Despite his legal struggles, there’s no question that he’s a talented player - his interception showed that - but Denver can’t count on him being around all season, to be real about it. Vaughn has taken more naturally to the nickel position and as a result he has been getting reps with the first-team nickel package, the second-team base defense (left cornerback), the second-team nickel package and all of the special-teams units, in one role or another. He’s also the No. 2 kickoff returner behind Eric Decker, and looks to have a roster slot locked up in a defensive backfield that’s going to be tough to make.

Increasingly, Kyle McCarthy (3 solo tackles, 1 sack) looks like he could be locking up one of his own. McCarthy played HS ball at Cardinal Mooney High in Youngstown, Ohio, so he’s got an insight into growing up with the game, from that Hall of Fame town perspective. He then made it onto Notre Dame’s squad, playing safety behind and along with David Bruton, who’s likely to have a roster slot of his own nailed with his ST play. Kyle is ahead of Bruton and behind Brian Dawkins according to the initial depth chart. It doesn’t surprise the UDFA’s high school coach, P.J. Flecko:

Kyle has played for Notre Dame and is now a Denver Bronco, so his athletic ability speaks for himself, but what really separates him from other players is his determination. His determination and dedication have taken him a long way. Kyle is the type of person that the more you tell him he can't do something, the more he's going to do it.

There weren’t a lot of analysis articles that suggested that McCarthy would make the team given the selection of Quinton Carter (3 tackles, 1 assist) and Rahim Moore (no stats), but right now it appears likely that Kyle makes the squad and plays STs and some backup SS. Darcel McBath (1 assist) is being pushed aside by this, and could be fighting for his early professional life.

You can’t just have a defensive backfield of young guys, but Dawk, Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman all provide some veteran steadiness. UDFA Brandon Bing out of Rutgers is being given a few plays to see where he is right now and is also getting some time on the return teams, both punts and kickoffs. He’s got 4.28 speed in the short shuttle, was timed below 4.3 in the 40 in college (4.41 and 4.44 at Combine) and had a 6.90 at Combine in the three-cone drill, so he’s fast and potentially handles changes of direction well (anything below 7.00 in the three-cone is excellent). He’s got a tough road to get a roster slot, although he’s likely to make the PS. CB Chris Harris started all 12 games of his junior and senior seasons at the University of Kansas, and there was a mention in the Denver Post of him having the size and power to move to safety if needed, even though he was listed at 5’10” and 190 lb at the team's official site (I kept finding him at 6’0” on Scout.com and some other predraft sites, 5’10” on others). Safety isn’t much less crowded than CB, so I’d consider him a PS player or a camp cut.

Where might this leave us? Simple enough - I won’t be paying a lot of attention to who’s second- and who’s third-string in some areas - Bruton, for example, is one of our top ST players and could be another Keith Burns-type - but I think that right now it looks to play out like this. Keep in mind - it’s training camp, and anyone can get hot, lose their focus or get injured, so it could change in a heartbeat.

Cornerback

Champ Bailey - You had doubts?

Andre' Goodman - It looks as though his veteran skills in coverage will be more important than his tendency to arm tackle.

Cassius Vaughn - He’s doing all the things that a UDFA needs to do to get noticed, given a chance and making the starting nickel team. It started with that TD return against SD to close out last season, then continued with consistently excellent play, not making the same errors repeatedly and cheerfully doing anything the coaches want him to, from playing on all STs to playing first-string nickel (and backup LCB) and to second-unit RCB. That’s a lot of responsibility for a young guy. Good luck to him.

Syd’Quan Thompson

I think this is going to be a choice between Brandon Bing, Chris Harris and Perrish Cox.

The looming spectre of Cox’s legal quandary has to be weighing in on this decision. Roger Goodell will weigh in when a verdict is reached, and that potential suspension time has to play into this too. Bing has a potential place as a returner - he’s fast and he’s shifty. Harris has been talked about as a potential CB/Saf, which might play in his favor. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see Nate Jones, his 6 tackles in the Dallas Game notwithstanding, as making the team. I just saw him getting beaten too many times last year. He could have one last really good season, but I hate to hang my hat on that hope - I just didn’t like his performance. Nice guy, but... Some teams keep 6 CBs - that leaves the same 4, but could give 2 more a chance. Five’s more likely, though.

Safety

Brian Dawkins - You even have to ask why?

Rahim Moore - The kid just keeps looking better.

David Bruton - You don’t give up your best ST player without a very pressing reason

Kyle McCarthy - I bet you saw this coming....

Quinton Carter - You have to love a guy that dukes it out in camp against OT Herb Taylor, who’s got him by 75, 80 lb. And, Taylor’s second string, so the coaches don’t get mad at you....

It’s been a long, long time since I looked at a Broncos roster for the defensive backfield and liked - really liked - what I saw. If you’ve got a lot of youth, you’re going to get mistakes that will make you pull your hair out - if it’s still there by now, of course. If the youth is winning their positions due to playing very well, as this bunch is, you’ll also get the ‘get up and cheer’ moments, and they’re pretty sweet too. This is a group that will probably get increasingly hard to make in the coming years, and I haven’t felt that about a defensive backfield for quite a spell.

And hey, Matt - kickers make enough. Take a cab - we need you out there healthy. Go Broncos!

Learn to laugh at yourself. You will be ceaselessly amused. - Sri Gary Olsen

You can reach Doc at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @alloverfatman

My thinking followed the same path and I considered the same moves regarding keeping McCarthy but I reversed myself after considering the value of a FS who can cover better versus a in-the-box type whose coverage skills are more limited. Currently, McCarthy&#8217s stock is hot and McBath&#8217s is not but they&#8217re both 2nd stringers. If McBath had dropped to 3rd string on the depth chart then the argument would be stronger. And if they both played the same Safety position then the argument would be stronger.

McBath&#8217s injury history may ultimately be his undoing but he still looks like an asset that&#8217s too valuable to be casually let go. I&#8217m not dismissive of the idea of keeping McCarthy instead of McBath since I had the same idea myself but it&#8217s an idea that&#8217s best revisited later on, after more than one game.

Posted by colinski on 2011-08-14 08:10:29

Well spoken, ECB.

I don&#8217t remember when we had so many good players at both the Safety and CB positions. It is exciting when we have the push for each to get better. I wonder if someone will eventually take PT away from Goodman. As the young guys develop their skillset, I wouldn&#8217t be surprised to see something going on their. Especially with the new defense that is being installed.

Good piece of work, Doc.

Posted by BlackKnight on 2011-08-14 07:31:44

I agree with you completely EastCoastBronco

Randomly killing someone is worse. Worse than deliberate murder in some ways and worse than rape.

Posted by warmick on 2011-08-14 05:48:37

Thanks ECB

Posted by OutOfYourElement on 2011-08-14 05:31:54

Well said,ECB. thanks for sharing your thoughts. I&#8217ve had to deal with the outcome of rape as well, and it&#8217s horrific for the victim and their families and friends.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2011-08-14 04:13:10

Ok, I tried to let it go and not say anything, but I can&#8217t.

Warmick, the way you look at life and the lives of people around you continues to baffle me, sadden me, and occasionally piss me off.

How in the world can you consider drunk driving worse then rape!? Because you&#8217ve decided, knowing NOTHING about the girl involved, that surely she must have asked for it or something just as assinine? There is a reason that plotted murder brings a MUCH more severe charge than involuntary manslaughter. With the latter, someone was generally making a poor decision(s) and the result was the worst possible and someone loses there life. TERRIBLY sad, and should be punished (though likely in those situations the guilt that the person feels for taking a life is the most severe of punishments). But with Murder 1, someone decided to take a life, plotted how to do so, and then followed through with those wicked thoughts. That&#8217s despicable. That requires an amount of disconect and disassociation with your fellow human beings that is horrible, and horribly scary to the rest of us. Thus, the punishment for that is MUCH more severe. And rightfully so.

So in a case od premeditated rape (which, if the allegations are true, is exactly what Cox did) someone would have to first decide they want to drug and rape someone. Then go out and buy the rape drug (a very specific type of dissolvable pill that completely inebriates a girl, making her appear supremely drunk to others but is, in fact, physically incapacitated and mentally unprepared for any type of crisis though the woman is still conscious enough to know what is happening) and, after having plotted the process and purchased the drug, then proceeds to act out the plan on another human being. That is despicable. Is being raped worse then being murdered? Well, that may depend on your beliefs about what happens when you die, but the general consensus is no. However, Warmick, have you ever met a girl who has been raped? Particularly recently. I have little doubt that you have, as 1 in every 3 woman are sexually assaulted in our nation, but I doubt you are the type they would divuldge that info to. However, I&#8217m here to tell you: the damage done to a woman&#8217s mind, heart and soul is extrordinary and often permanent. They are generally forever wounded and damaged in a way you and I will never truelly understand and that damage will generally completely and utterly change the direction of their lives. And almost always for the worst.

Doc, happy birthday! I&#8217ve been following your writing for several years now and you&#8217ve been one of my favorite Broncos authors for just as long. Thank you sincerely and I hope today has been a day of. Joy, celebration and satisfaction for you. You&#8217ve earned it.

Posted by EastCoastBronco on 2011-08-14 02:48:43

Looks like Broncos trying to have Dell sneak by waivers so we can put him on injured list. Hope he sneaks thru.

Posted by Orange and Blue on 2011-08-14 00:59:54

Excellent as always Doc.

And a very happy birthday to you.

Posted by NickCast on 2011-08-13 22:50:13

Thanks and Happy Birthday, Doc.

The Practice Squad names may be very interesting. Bing or Harris likely land there IMO. I really like our depth and therefore makes the PS squad quite competitive. Extremely premature but: Brown (DL), Dell (WR) and Bing (CB) seem easy picks to make it. Remaining spots will be interesting.

Posted by Orange and Blue on 2011-08-13 22:33:16

bfree, you&#8217re right about Bruton - so far, he hasn&#8217t shown enough on the regular field. However - most teams keep a couple of ST specialists around beyond the kickers and return guys - guys like Bruton or Keith Burns who keep the ST quality up. On that basis, I think that he&#8217s worth it. Look at the way that STs cost SD the division last year. They really matter.

in addition to Cox&#8217s legal problem, Goodman (good analysis on him, btw) is taking the #2 CB slot back, and that leaves nickel. Cox isn&#8217t doing well there - it&#8217s an art unto itself - and Vaughn is tearing it up. Sometimes the cards just fall that way. Vaughn has also taken the #2 or RCB slot on the second unity, so Cox is out of that, too. It just isn&#8217t his year.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2011-08-13 21:38:43

Say it is the 4th of July and instead of lightening firecrackers, a drunk football player decides to celebrate by shooting a loaded gun all over the place. He would just have been foolishly playful and certainly not meaning to hurt anybody. He may in fact well have felt that he was no more drunk than he could safely make sure none of his shots would put anybody in danger. Even so, we would all be outraged.

Now compare that to the legal transgressions of Cox and Prater. Not to minimize the very serious violations Cox perpetrated on the woman but Prater&#8217s actions were far more dangerous. Like the foolish shooter (and unlike Cox), Prater randomly put the lives of strangers, who happened to have the misfortune of being in his vicinity, -in danger.

I would hate to lose him for the team but we should not let the prospect of our selfish consideration get in the way of evaluating the proper punishment for him and the message that penalty would send to other potentiel idiots.

Posted by warmick on 2011-08-13 21:29:58

Happy Birthday Doc, nice read.

Posted by Fan in Exile on 2011-08-13 21:27:30

We definitely have a good group to choose from. Nate Jone&#8217s 7 years in the NFL didn&#8217t show it on Thursday night against 2nd and 3rd string Cowboys offense. This guy doesn&#8217t need to be taking up a roster spot imo.

Bruton for me is a hard nut to crack as he doesn&#8217t dazzle with onfield performances other than STs. I would hate to see us hold up a roster spot for him just for that play if we have a position player who compares on STs. I&#8217m really disappointed in Bruton and it probably lies more with his fluidity of the hips as was stated in earlier articles. I won&#8217t write him off yet and will be watching him in the upcoming games.

I love what Fox/Elway/Xanders did in the draft with getting 2 safeties as this tell (at least me) me that they weren&#8217t satified with either McBath&#8217s or Bruton play in their 2 years on the Broncos. Rahim Moore may be the gem we are looking for at the position and kudos again EFX for the find.

I love Goodman&#8217s play but he can disappoint too how he get&#8217s caught up with blocks while the runner siddles past him for a nice gain. Having reached his ceiling in development we may never see him get past those traits. His coverage is sound though and maybe that&#8217s all we can ask for at this time. I&#8217m surprised that Fox/Allen have relegated Cox to nickle instead of LCB as his play was getting better imo as last season wore on. Maybe they are just trying him out in different situations. We&#8217ll see as I don&#8217t think he will be punish much for his ordeal.

Kyle McCarthy is looking like a man on a mission and that mission is to make the team in any way possible. I don&#8217t see a Lynch/Polomalu type player but versatile in may ways. Good for him.

Happy Leo Day, Doc! I love August. Just ate my first tomato off the vine last night.

Perrish Cox: His legal situation is so rough that I am amazed he is able to take the field. I thought he looked very good the other night, despite what has to be a heavy load on his mind.

But I think with Champ, Goodman, Vaughn, Squid and Bing or Harris we&#8217re better off than a lot of teams.

Posted by bradley on 2011-08-13 18:53:18

Steve, it didn&#8217t tell me enough to have a clear idea. As I&#8217ve said, no DC (or OC, either) tips his hand in the 1st preseason game. I&#8217d guess that they will use a combination of man and zone, but that&#8217s just a guess, although it&#8217s general enough to likely be right. The question will be how much of each, and I&#8217m not close to knowing.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2011-08-13 18:51:15

Happy Birthday Doc really enjoyed the article.

Did the 1st game suggest that there is going to be more zone play from the secondary this year or not?

Posted by SteveUk on 2011-08-13 18:36:50

What .... no Nate Jones?

Posted by magster on 2011-08-13 18:33:25

Thanks, guys. @Space - the good and bad news is that the disease doesn&#8217t let me mix alcohol with the other meds. I&#8217m Prater-proof <img alt="wink" height="19" src="http://www.singernet.com/images/smileys/wink.gif" style="border:0;" width="19">. On the other hand, Prater was apparently about 86 proof.